I, the leader of the esoteric sect, am doing great things in the infinite world!

"Dad, what kind of star is that?"

No one answered her; a colorless starlight enveloped her and pulled her away from this world.

......

The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Zhang.

“Child, we have thought about it for a long time and decided to teach you the magic passed down in our family.”

As Eastern wizards who came from a distant land and settled in England, the Zhang couple naturally wouldn't stick to the old ways like native English wizards.

This year, their daughter will be attending Hogwarts to study magic systematically. However, before that, the Zhang couple plans to teach Cho Chang some simple and useful family spells to prevent her from being bullied by her classmates at Hogwarts.

Young Qiu Zhang sat on an oriental-style futon, gently shifting her hips.

"Your mother and I came to England before you were born, and we have never told you about our heritage. Now that you are about to enter Hogwarts, there are some things I have to tell you."

Mr. Zhang pulled a peach wood sword from the wall and lowered his voice slightly: "I am from a collateral branch of the Zhang family, while your mother is a descendant of the Gezao Mountain lineage. In other words, talismans and rituals are the origin of your family's traditions."

Qiu Zhang nodded blankly.

Mrs. Zhang patted her husband's arm with concern: "Why say so much useless stuff? The baby's getting numb from sitting so long."

Mr. Zhang coughed twice: "...In short, you must remember that you are no less than those long-established pure-blood families in the West. Right now, I will teach you the first step: worshiping the stars."

Mr. Zhang walked away from Qiu Zhang, revealing a small table.

Two portraits hung on the table, one of the Big Dipper and the other of the Southern Dipper.

"Bow to these two stars, and it means you've entered the sect. Zhang Qiu, if you don't bow now, when will you?"

Before Qiu Zhang could react, two beams of starlight rolled down from the two star charts and swept away their daughter in front of the Zhang couple, taking her to an unknown place.

74. The pattern opens up

There were five people present, including two Dark Lords.

Strictly speaking, Grindelwald cannot be considered the Dark Lord, because he never called himself that. Moreover, the title of Dark Lord was popularized by Voldemort. It was only because of Grindelwald's "great achievements" that some people posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Dark Lord.

To give an analogy, Voldemort is like Cao Pi, and Grindelwald is like Cao Cao.

The four figures did not awaken at the same time. The first figure to emerge after the starlight dissipated was the frail and elderly Gellert Grindelwald.

He was still wearing his pajamas and draped in that old bed sheet, standing calmly on the overgrown ground, watching Li Lin.

“Where is this?” Grindelwald asked.

“This is Mansu,” Li Lin answered truthfully.

"I've never heard of this name before."

“I would be surprised if you’ve heard of this name.” Li Lin sat on the steps, with the collapsed, magnificent temple and two rows of columns behind him.

“If you want to know everything about Mansu, I can tell you,” Li Lin said sincerely to Grindelwald.

The former Dark Lord was silent for a moment: "If this is your wish, then so be it."

He still doesn't understand how he suddenly appeared here.

"That's good." Li Lin nodded. "There are thirty supreme deities in Mansu, each with their own doctrines. The first one I will preach to you is called the Double-Horned Axe. His law is separation and opposition; everything has a reason for its origin and end. Have you ever lost your old self at some point? Have you ever accepted your new self at some point?"

At the same time, Li Lin silently opened the dark green desktop and placed the first open page of Grindelwald into the dialog box.

A new Hour has set its sights on you!

[Current observers: Double-horned axe, White-day forge.]

Li Lin paused almost imperceptibly.

Is it really true that what you say comes true? What kind of live-streaming e-commerce room is this?

Grindelwald frowned slightly. What Li Lin said made a lot of sense, but that was precisely why he felt uncomfortable.

He once wanted to change the world; he once believed that the world was heading towards the destruction of wizards, and he wanted to steer it in the right direction.

But now he and Dumbledore are old, and even death can no longer bind them.

Grindelwald was indeed old; he had grown old the moment his ideals became hopeless.

“I am indeed getting old. Looking back now, things had already changed when I made that prediction.”

Grindelwald's eyes flashed with pain: "The Muggles are developing faster and faster. They are creating powerful weapons. Their knowledge and culture surpass those of wizards. Their power is enough to destroy the entire world and level everything that exists, and we can only watch it all happen."

More importantly, wizards are powerless to do anything about it.

One in ten thousand wizards could not possibly be an Albus Dumbledore, but even if every wizard were like Dumbledore, they would still be unable to withstand a weapon that could raze an entire city to the ground with a single blow.

If this is fate, then it has prevailed.

The old Grindelwald was utterly defeated before this, and for decades afterward, only prisoners lingered on, barely clinging to life.

“The ending was already decided. This is a sacrifice.” Grindelwald smiled bitterly.

Li Lin slowly raised his head, his habitually reckless nature leading him to argue: "I don't think that's a good idea."

The former Dark Lord frowned.

"It's smaller, the layout is smaller."

Li Lin raised his hand and gestured, "What era are we living in? Still clinging to those outdated ideas, trying to rule the majority with a minority, is bound to be overthrown."

"Strictly speaking, why are wizards and Muggles so separated? They don't even have reproductive isolation—"

“No, you’re wrong.” Grindelwald stared at Li Lin, interrupting him. “We have magic—”

"That settles it!" Li Lin clapped his hands and said with a pained expression, "Magic determines the difference between wizards and Muggles."

Grindelwald's gaze slowly turned serious.

"Just because I know spells doesn't mean I can't drive a dump truck and wreck the other side. Wand or pistol, use whichever works better. Old Ge, you need to distinguish between means and essence—people who possess magic, no matter where they are, are all labeled as wizards."

"So what you need to do is not to become a demon king, but to become the ruler of order."

"You must allow all wizards to do what they wish to do within the bounds of the law, and guarantee that this is their inviolable human right."

"You must give wizards the freedom to choose, whether to enter the civilized world and embrace the tides of the times, or to stay in the magical world and uphold the traditions of wizards, whether to enter the Muggle world to learn technology, or to study magic at the eleven magic schools."

"You must be a protector, protecting those who are willing to follow your rules and who possess magic."

"You are a pioneer, not a sinner."

Grindelwald lowered his voice: "No, it won't be that easy. It's not just those people in the Ministry of Magic... there's also Dumbledore..."

In fact, he knew very well what those people in the Ministry of Magic were worth.

"For the greater good, Mr. Grindelwald."

Li Lin's voice became increasingly strange, like the sound of chopping wood in a deep forest. The sky was filled with golden-purple twilight, and the air was filled with the fragrance of hawthorn blossoms.

At some point, a pair of forked antlers had sprouted on either side of his forehead.

"If the magical world is truly headed for irreversible demise, then we who foresaw all of this but did nothing are undoubtedly guilty sinners. Those who only desire but do not act are harmful to the world. Someone has to do something, so why can't it be you or me?"

Grindelwald took a deep breath and stared at Li Lin.

It must be admitted that... with just a few words, Li Lin reignited the passion in an old man who had given up on his ideals.

“Then…” Grindelwald’s voice was somewhat strained, “why don’t you do those things?”

“I cannot do it,” Li Lin replied in a strange and ancient voice, his head adorned with golden-purple antlers. “Because I have been imprisoned here since ancient times. Although I can still see all the past and future with these eyes, I have no way to interfere with it all, until your arrival today.”

“You are…” An indescribable name gradually rose in Grindelwald’s mind, and he was speechless with shock.

"I am Merlin."

Li Lin pointed to the magnificent temple behind him, "This place has another name, Avalon."

[One of the officials is very satisfied with your performance!]

Is this all there is to the 75-year plan?

[One of the officials is very satisfied with your performance!]

Your actions have adhered to the principles set forth by a certain celestial being.

[You have gained some understanding of the power of the Si Chen Twin-Horned Axe.]

[Tier 1 Secret Technique: Forked Antlers]

[Level: canon! 】

[Sexual characteristics: Qi (Start), Dong (Winter)]

The antlers grow outwards and fork.

When your actions align with the principles of a particular deity, there is no cost to you, but it will make your thinking and behavior more aligned with that deity.

The power of Sichen's double-horned axe symbolizes separation, especially the separation between the old self and the new self. Her law is to sever all things that should not be combined. She signifies endings, transitions, and rebirth.

In the esoteric Buddhist world, His name is that of a god who divides and reunites, who acts in accordance with the times. What can continue will continue, while what lingers on will surely come to an end.

Li Lin upheld His principles, which allowed this Scion to turn his attention here. Clearly, the connection between the magical world and the Muggle world had displeased this Scion.

Li Lin's push for Grindelwald to establish a new order perfectly aligned with the wishes of the Twin-Horned Axe. At this moment, His favor towards Li Lin even surpassed that of the White-Day Forge!